Ask Him!

In the first chapter of Ephesians, after explaining God’s plan of redemption and it’s affect upon those who believe in Christ (verses 1-14), Paul writes a beautiful prayer of intercession (verses 15-23). His request, in summary, is that his audience (and we who would later come to faith) would gain spiritual understanding.  His desire is that we would know God better and understand His great love towards us.  Paul then prays for an impartation of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.

In Colossians 1:9-10, Paul is also praying for believers to receive (and grow in) spiritual understanding. And once again, he prays for an impartation of the Holy Spirit.  His request is that God would fill them,   ‘with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding’, which can only be revealed by the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.

In both passages Paul speaks of the fervency of his prayer, with statements like, ‘we have not stopped praying for you’ and ‘I keep asking…’. 

In Colossians, he goes on to say that this spiritual understanding (impartation) is necessary in order for us to:   

 §         Live meaningful, productive lives

    §         Grow deeper in our understanding and knowledge of God

    §         Be strengthened to endure the hardships of this life with patience, and

    §         Live joyful, thankful lives.

I think of how deeply I desire these attributes in my life and how so often I’ve tried to accomplish these things in my own strength or my own way.  How liberating it is to know that for me to have the meaningful life I so greatly desire, all I need do is to ask Him.  No more trying to be nice in my own strength, or trying to be patient by ‘gutting out’ difficult seasons. And how dangerous it is to strive after wisdom without Him?  James 3: 13-17 states,

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

God’s wisdom cannot be manufactured or obtained through human will.  To be the best we can possibly be, to receive the fullness of this life we’ve been given, we must, ask Him!  To endure the hardships of life with patience and understanding, we must ask Him! 

So why not take some time to do just that?  Ask Him.  Ask Him to ‘fill you with the knowledge of His will’.  And ask Him to ‘give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation’.  Ask Him for more of the Holy Spirit. Just ask Him.  He’ll add productivity to your life!  Ask Him.  He’ll add a deeper understanding and knowledge of Himself to your life!  Ask Him.   He’ll add patience, strength and tenacity to your life!  Ask Him.  He’ll give you joy, His joy!  Ask Him.  He’ll give you more of His Spirit!  Ask Him!

And if Paul continued to ask, then I will do that as well!  Ask Him!

…Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

God’s creative power is revealed from Genesis (In the beginning God created....Genesis 1:1) to Revelation (Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Revelation. 21:5). This same power, His power, becomes alive in us when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  We become a new person, a new creation, ‘Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Worldly lusts and fleshly desires no longer have rule over us.  We now belong to Christ.  He gives us His Spirit and we are forever changed. 

One of the things I appreciate most about my life in Christ is that not only have I been changed, but I am yet still being changed.  All who are His are transformed.  This, He has promised to fulfill!  For our part, having received His great promise, we are encouraged to -

‘Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.’  Colossians 3:1-3

We are to learn to care about the things our Lord cares about.  To have our passions rightly aligned with His.  We are challenged to not waste time or energy in unproductive areas, but to live fruitful and purpose-filled lives.  Always preparing for and anticipating His return.  We must also adjust our thinking.  The frame of reference for our thinking needs to be congruent with our spiritual position.  We are bound to Christ.  The same creative power by which God spoke life into existence is alive in us.  The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in us.  The same power in which Jesus will return and draw all things unto Himself is alive in us.  Our thought processes need to reflect faith and trust in the One who has saved, redeemed and restored. No longer should we allow ourselves to become blogged down with negative thoughts of fear, worry or regret.  And no longer should we negotiate life based on temporal issues or concerns, but we should always strive to live against the back drop of heaven. Our future is an eternity with the Lord, so our challenge is to live each day in preparation.  Our aim is perfectly stated by the Apostle Paul.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!   Philippians 3:12 -14

Be blessed!

Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.                                                
                                                                                                                               - Romans 12:2

The way we think has everything to do with how well we negotiate the issues of life and our interactions with others. Proverbs 23:7 states, For as a man (or woman) thinks in his heart, so he is.   What’s true of you inwardly will be reflected outwardly.

In Romans 12:2, the Apostle Paul is letting us know that to truly be conformed into the image of Christ we need to be changed.  We need a renewal in our manner of thinking.  Upon believing in Christ Jesus, we were changed. We became a new creation.  Accordingly, no longer should we have the mind-set of the world or our own past interpretations on life, but we are challenged to each day view our life as God does.  To know and accept His will for us, which Paul describes as good, acceptable and perfect! A change of mind does not come easily, but it will come as we open our self to truth …His truth.  And a change in heart will come as we open our self to His Spirit. 

More times than I care to admit, I’ve placed a life experience in my ‘Category Bad’ file only to later discover that said experience was a tool used by God to grow and bless me and to allow me to know Him better!  Having come through the trial to see His wisdom in bringing me through and to experience the joy of knowing that He was with me along the way! You don’t truly know Him as a deliverer, until He has delivered you from something.  How can you know Him as the All-sufficient Provider, unless He’s provided for you in a way no other could?  And how can you know His favor, grace or love unless you’ve experienced Him.  The good news is that once you’ve come to know Him in these ways you’ve entered into relationship.  No longer living in the shallow waters of religion, but experiencing the rich pleasure of relationship with Him. 

Now, back to how we think about things. When He carries you through a trial or difficulty, do you concentrate on the hardship or do you ever think, just maybe, God is entrusting you with a trial.  Could James 1:2-4 be true?

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

As I look through scripture, how sad I would be had Job cursed God and died according to his wife’s words.  No longer having the encouragement of one who didn’t understand why he was experiencing severe trials, but who stood, knowing (in heart and mind) that God was sovereign and good.  How I would miss the encouragement received from Joseph’s ability to stand through years of difficulty, not consumed in regret over life’s trials but believing in heart and mind God’s promise. And how were Paul and Silas not overcome with how dreadful their Phillippian prison experience was but were able to sing songs of triumph which led to their freedom.  And what if Jesus had concluded (thought) that there was another way to redeem mankind, something, let’s say, a little less taxing. 

How we think is indicative of what we believe and we are only able to believe according to the measure of our faith.  We know from Romans 12:3 that, God has dealt to each one a measure of faith, so in order for this renewal process to continue in me, I must seek His counsel regarding the issues of life.  From His word I learn to think about life differently and thereby grow in faith.  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God!  I learn to trust Him more, to know and love Him better, and to better love my brother and sister!  As I grow in faith, the trials and tribulations of life become less burdensome and more of an adventure.  And by His grace, I become perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  Let’s think on these things!